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Hey Apopka, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: HCA Florida Wekiva Emergency opens, chef William Shen’s UniMart, and Scarf the City returns + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Apopka protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Expanded emergency care access: HCA Florida Wekiva Emergency opens tomorrow, March 10, bringing a 24/7 freestanding ER to western Orange County with private rooms, on-site radiology, and a child-friendly family room for Apopka families — get all the details.

Michelin-starred restaurateur expands offerings: Chef William Shen will open UniMart at Orlando’s Mills Market, bringing Japanese snacks, candies, tamago sandos, and konbini fried chicken to a food hall a short drive from Apopka — get all the details.

Season tickets up for grabs: Orlando Pride’s Scarf the City returns tomorrow, March 10, with 3,000 hidden scarves across Central Florida, clues on @TeamCityOrlando, and an appearance by players at The Final Whistle — see how to take part.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Healthy Kids Running Series hits Apopka
• Kids explore sketching in six-week series
• Pedal to support Wekiva students

🫶 We got your back

Cubano craving solved: When the real-deal sandwich mood hits, Heber’s Cuban Cafe delivers: pressed, melty, satisfying, with classic Cuban staples and strong coffee to match. Reliable, unfussy, and full of flavor, it’s the easy answer for lunch, a midday jolt, or whenever you want something that just tastes right.

Spring-fed reset, anyone? When the week feels a little too Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park makes it easy to breathe again. Float the crystal-clear spring, wander shaded trails, or paddle the Wekiva to spot turtles and herons. It’s low-key adventure, close to home in Apopka.

Geek night upgrade: Gods & Monsters is Orlando’s nerd hub for pop culture collectibles, toys, comics, manga, trading card games, model kits, and original art, plus the cosplay‑friendly Vault 5421 inside. Perfect for a quick figure hunt, fresh reads, or just soaking up good, geeky vibes.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

💃 Free Zumba for Seniors @ Metro Health of Apopka | Tuesday (3/10) at 10:00 AM – Free Zumba for seniors is livening up Tuesday mornings at Metro Health of Apopka, with Rosi and Marie keeping the beats friendly and the moves doable. It is cardio, laughs, and zero judgment, so trade the coffee for a shimmy, Tuesdays at 10.

🧗 Camp Wewa Climb Club Spring 2026 @ Camp Wewa | Tuesday (3/10) at 4:30 PM – Camp Wewa’s rock wall is calling, open sessions for ages 8 and up, newbies and show-offs alike. It’s free, you just register online each time, then climb, chat, and soak up the outdoors. Lycra optional, dad jokes inevitable.

🏥 Medicare 101 @ Perkins American Food Co. | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:30 PM – Medicare has more parts than a lawn mower, so get it decoded over dinner at Perkins in Apopka. A relaxed, no-pressure rundown on Parts A, B, C, and D, plus supplements vs Advantage, common pitfalls, and how to pick what fits, with a free meal.

🛍 Friday Night Market @ E 5th Street, Apopka, FL, United States, Florida 32703 | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Friday Night Market is taking over 5th Street with farm-fresh eggs, meats, and veggies, live music, and craft beer and cocktails. Come sip and stroll, chat up local makers, and pretend the dog insisted you buy another candle, cookie, and charcuterie.

🌳 The Oak Challenge @ Apopka Pop Warner Football & Cheerleading Fields | Friday (3/13) at 6:00 PM – Craving a humblebrag-worthy sweat? The Oak Challenge returns to the Pop Warner field at Northwest Rec to test your total fitness, celebrate three years, and salute the 2025 series diehards at a special awards ceremony. Athletes and volunteers register, spectators are free, bring the family.

🍳 Vinyl Brunch Sundays @ Propagate Social House | Sunday (3/15) at 11:00 AM – If your algorithm keeps serving yacht rock, let Propagate Social House handle Sundays old-school, with records, eggs, and zero rush. Vinyl-only DJs spin Latin, cumbia, Afrobeat, and jazz while you linger over brunch, mocktails, or a THC cocktail. Free to wander in, hard to leave.

🍦 Cops N’ Cones @ Dairy Queen Grill & Chill | Tuesday (3/17) at 3:30 PM – Bring the kids to Apopka’s Dairy Queen for Cops N’ Cones, where the only thing getting served is soft-serve. Meet friendly officers, let the little ones snag a free cone, and enjoy small-town chat with sprinkles, no sirens, just community sweetness.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Apopka report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 89°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 16%

Patchy fog before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 88°F – Low: 66°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Florida but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This estate-style home lives large on a generous lot, showcasing freshly sealed, honed travertine floors and a massive upstairs game or bonus room. Outside, a sparkling pool and spa survey a sprawling fenced backyard. Entertain with a summer kitchen featuring a kegerator. A rear one-car garage doubles as a workshop, adding flexibility for hobbies.

Take a peek inside →